New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-27
THE BOOK OF LOVE.
poMANCE AND MYSTICISM.
fJBER AMORIs. BEING THE BOOK or LOnE c Ua
MOTHER AURELIUS. BY HENRY BERNAiD |A"
Boston: TfcknOr n 20.

mystic. Few tasks are more dlfncuiu 'h"n .i''
composition Of long poem embodyms loi'y
esOteric meaning yet the exoteric aspect OF winch
Is such as to satisfy and interest the large pody
Of readers who demand dramatic, pictorial ana
emoti nal verse. and who Judge every production
by its realistic effect. To this class OF crlI'e
the "I.iber Amoris" will appear graceful, tender
romance. instinct with subtle observation Vi
nature. filled with the glow oil c''ioi' "'o,,
IMAGINATION enliyened by moving incident, """
made ,i,turcsouc by idcalized description lhosc
who look deeper will find in it mysllcai ioeili
af remarkable beauty and scope; iiVs" an"
preenant symbolzatiOn of the higher psychoio-s d
study OF the everrcurring oideai tifo"En "ii'''
in anguish and dependency. the human SOUL
struggles in It's purifying passage from earthiy 10
celestial love- The subtlety of the conception Is
manifested not less in the skiliul blending OF
the real and the ideal than in the JuXtap sltioh
at first seemingly anachrOnstic-of the romantic
Love of the trouverc and the refined and exalted
Altruism of advanced modern culture. 10 the
superficial observer 1t might almost appear that
the mysticism of mediavalism hal III some STRANGE
way become cOnfounded with the Oriental ideas
which have been flooding the West of late. In
truth the connection between the two lines OF
thought is far more intimate than is commonly
realized, but Mr.. Carpenter has with singular
delicacy and kecnncss herein represented phase
of modern idcalism which has received made
quate recognition.
The poem presents itself as a romance. An aged
monk, Brother Aulcius, feeling his end approach
ing confidcs to his friend Basil, as the TWO slC
before the fire on stormy winter nlght' inc
story of his life lie does not at once tell his
friend that the narrative is that of his own eX-
perience, but relates the sad history OF young
Dorian of Chateau dor as though 1t were ex-
ternal to himself Dorian was a Proyencal,
with all the warm southern charact erisucs.
stcered in poetry to the lips, born troubaiour
q creature of emotion. At the University OF
padua where he is sent for his education, he
meets a northern youth Rupert de Lindenwald.
son of German armorer, vassal TO a rough baron.
The young Provencal is attracted by his opposite.
and he seeks Rupcrt's friendship. Presently the
northern stripping is recalled home by his liege
lord to take the Place, of his father who is dead.
Dorian accompanies him part OF the way, per-
suades him to visit the Chateau dor, and sends
him hOmeward at last freighted with rich gifts.
The intercourse between the two friends is
interui ted for some time at this point. Dorian
proves restless. and dreams Of love and
high emrrze. Presently he is impelled to ride
forth to q tournament of Love held in the neigh
borhood. lie Is successful in the lists and beas
away all the prizes But he seeks real love.
Tlmrin. ian forest lie proceeds on the quest
and finds the hermit, who gives him to drink
q bitter draught, and bestOws upon him the Book
OF Love. There is profound symbolism in this
experience, but it wells no mystery. The boy
loses his precious Book after leaving the hermit.
Experience alone can teach the secrets Of love.
and the human heart must be the volume in
which TO inscIibe them Dorian wanders until
he comes upon valley of roses which affords
opportunity for a charming bit of description.
There he meets and falls in love with beautiful
GIRL who proves to be the sister of his dearest
friend, Rupert de Lindenwald. Rurert, who per
sOniies the cold. dark spirit Of materialism, has
been hardening and deteliOrating since he left
Provence. He seeks his own advancement, and is
prepared to sacrifice his sister and his friend to
it. The lord whose vassal he is loves ROsellc
and seeks her. She has been betrothed to Dorian,
but the latter is ASSAULT ed at night and left for
dead, and the girl is carried off. IL is Rupert |
who has he believes assassinated his friend and
who has delivered his sister to her tyrant lover
From the latter she effects her escape but on
finding the lifeless body of Dorian her heart
breaks and she dies After long illness the poor
trouba lour recovers only TO realize that ali which
made life worth living has vanished. He returns
home TO discover that Rupert has desolated his
hearth and killed his aged father by suddenly
appearing with the report Of the sons death
In the confusion the false friend rillagcs the
chateau and disappears with his plumber When
Dorian learns these things his heart dies within
him. Then desperate mood takes possession OF
him, and he filings himself into whatever crlsades.
expeditions, dangerous ventures Of all kinds, pre-
sent themselves. lie is abroad for years, fight
ing, but Death passes him by At length he
softens, and returning home is led to adopt the
mOnastic habit
In the life Of the recluse many years pass.
Gradually he learns 10 see more clearly. He ex-
ponds himself in good works, In ministering to
his fellows who are in SORROW and distress. lie is
growing into the higher life, and even hopes that
he has attained to it, when he is suddenly sub
1ected to trial which exceeds all its predecessors
Called to attend dying stranger In the village
hOstegy the sick mans statements disclose TO him
that he is in the presence Of the destroyer Of his
earthly happiness Rupert de Lindenwald But
Dorian is equal to the strain put upon him. After
long Life of loveess self seeking, fierce cOnten
ton, and disappointed ambitions. Rupert, tardily
Iemorscful, and perhaps moved even then more
by anxiety for his own future than genuine re
pentance for his sins, laments his desperate con
dition and confesses the heinous character of his
msdeeds Dorian listens to the death-bed out
pouring and, relating the event TO Basil, he says
"Then nightly
Icrted i'm silence TO the silent God
Asking that might some way save this soul
Through Loves own power; but first that myself
Might win and touch and taste the perfect gift
OF Love in mine own spirit"
He tells Rupert that priest he has power of
dissolution. But Rupert will not accept such re-
lief
"Nay, nay" he answered sternly; "one alone
Can speak the pardon.-he whose voice and face
Are far from where speak, and further yet
From the drear night whereto soon descend,
My last abode for ever"
Then says Dorian:
"What II he should return
From the bright isles hey ond the mists Of death
To tell thee that his only woe is this,
That thou dOst travel with weary load.
Which he would die again to lift from thee,-
Say, wOuldst thou then receive the parJOning word
And be at rest, and 20 this night to sleep
IN the deep peace that broOds above the starsi"
But Rupert will not believe that even If the
spirit Of his betrayed friend could return it would
pardon him. Slowly and with difficulty the truth